04/17/2026
A few years into teaching yoga, my teacher & spiritual mentor told me something that shocked me đł
At the time I was studying the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita with him on almost a daily basisâŚ
And I was about 3 years into teaching yoga when I was told I needed to start âwowingâ my students đ¤
I remember feeling confused, shocked and a little disappointedâŚ.
Because this was the same space where I was studying the philosophy of yoga that emphasizes in every piece of literature - you are not the body
So hearing that⌠just didnât sit right with me
I had to have him clarify to make sure my assumption of what he was saying was correct - and yup, my assumptions were correct âŚ
He meant wowing them with advanced poses
Next level Ability
Impressive transitions
The kind of yoga that makes people look amazed
He even said â you know, like âso&soâ not gonna mentions names, but yes, he compared me to a friend who had a more physically âadvancedâ practice then me
But that was never what brought me to yoga
That is never what inspired me about yoga
And it certainly was never what I thought was the treasure, gem, or pinnacle of yoga
But I am so very very grateful for that moment and the teaching it gave me
And I found myself responding almost immediately : no, I want to wow them with the philosophy âŚ.
Not from defiance⌠but from clarity
Not from rebellion, but from certainty
Because I donât care if someone can do a handstand
I care if their life changes
I care if they see themselves differently when they leave the room.â
I care about what happens off the mat
That moment didnât make me right and him wrong
It just made me clear - very clear - on the kind of teacher I amâand the kind of space I hold
Thereâs nothing wrong with performance, handstands or advanced poses
But it was never my divine assignment
My work isnât to impress
Itâs to guide people back to themselves
That moment anchored something in me that still defines how I teach today
Not a method I copied, but a unique blueprint I trust
